Profile - Father Joachim Rego

Joachim was born and raised in Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar). His parents George and Celina and their four children moved to Sydney, Australia in 1969, when Joachim was fifteen years of age. They settled in Marrickville where the Passionists have a community and St Brigid's parish. The boys (Joachim, Aloysius and Valerian) attended De La Salle College and Bernadette attended St Brigid's which was under the care of the Good Samaritan sisters.

Being musicians, the family was soon involved in the parish and Joachim’s youngest brother Valerian, who is now 47 years of age, has been playing the organ at Mass for 35 years! Valerian and his wife Jan are also PFGM group leaders.

At age 17, Joachim applied to join the Passionists and was ordained with Paul Traynor in 1981.

His first appointment was to the Passionist parish of Hobart where Joachim worked as a hospital chaplain. After three and a half years he became a founding missionary of the Passionists in India, where he served as novice master for the maximum sic month period that was allowed.

From India, Joachim became a missionary in Papua New Guinea. What began as a four year appointment extended to eighteen years and included two years in Irian Java.During his time in PNG, Joachim was stationed mostly in Vanimo diocese. He also spent time in Port Moresby. He served as community leader, parish priest, novice master, formation director, and he spent quite a large amount of time conducting retreats for clergy and religious throughout PNG. He also formed a 'house of prayer' in Weewak. Finally, Joachim served the maximum two (four year) terms as regional Vicar of the Passionist mission in PNG. During this time he also served as President of the Religious Leaders Conference for PNG.

Having completed this service, Joachim returned to Australia towards the end of 2003 and was appointed to the parish at St Brigid's parish in Marrickville. In July 2007 he was elected Provincial of Holy Spirit Province (Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea) residing at St Brigid's, Marrickville, where Brian Traynor has also been resident for the past four years.

During 2006 Joachim undertook a 'one hundred day' sabbatical in San Antionio, USA. Kevin Hennessy was part of the same experience. One outcome of this sabbatical was the writing of some music and the subsequent release of a CD titled 'Whispers of God's Love' which is available from Pleroma books in New Zealand.

Joachim's brother, Aloysius is a Carmelite priest who lives on the outskirts of Sydney. The other members of his family live in Marrickville and continue their involvement in St Brigid's parish.

His visit to New Zealand was Joachim's first, and it allowed him the opportunity as Provincial, to encourage the ministry of professed and lay Passionists, through the PFGM and Passionist Companions.